New Ensemble ® II By Henry Kloss Important—Please Read First ................................................................... 1 Unpacking The System ............................................................................. 2 Overview .................................................................................................. 3 Speaker Placement ................................................................................... 3 Hookup Options ....................................................................................... 5 Preparing Speaker Wires .......................................................................... 6 Making Connections ................................................................................. 7 Optimizing The Sound Of Your System .................................................... 8 About Amplifier Power ............................................................................. 9 Finalizing Your Installation ................................................................... 10 10-Year Limited Warranty ...................................................................... 11 Cleaning The Cabinets ............................................................................ 11 Difficulty? ............................................................................................... 12 Contents Instructions for:
Transcript
New Ensemble® IIBy Henry Kloss
Important—Please Read First ................................................................... 1Unpacking The System ............................................................................. 2Overview .................................................................................................. 3Speaker Placement ................................................................................... 3Hookup Options ....................................................................................... 5Preparing Speaker Wires .......................................................................... 6Making Connections ................................................................................. 7Optimizing The Sound Of Your System .................................................... 8About Amplifier Power ............................................................................. 9Finalizing Your Installation ................................................................... 1010-Year Limited Warranty ...................................................................... 11Cleaning The Cabinets ............................................................................ 11Difficulty? ............................................................................................... 12
ContentsInstructions for:
hank you for choosingNew Ensemble II. Like allspeaker systems, its sound isvery much influenced by its
placement in the listening room.Unlike conventional systems, how-ever, it consists of three compactunits that can be placed where theysound best without intruding onyour living space. There is no needto sacrifice sound quality to decor,or vice-versa.
If you place New Ensemble II inyour listening room casually, it willsound at least as good as conven-tional speakers. However, to achieveeven better sound, we urge you toexperiment with placement at somelength, a process aided by theinstructions that follow.
If you have any questions orproblems, please consult the storewhere you purchased the system, orcall a Cambridge SoundWorksAudio/Video Consultant toll-free.
Important – Please Read First
T Cambridge SoundWorks1-877-YES-HIFI
(1-877-937-4434)24 hours a day,
every dayIn Canada: 1-800-987-9104
Outside US or Canada:Tel: 617-332-5936Fax: 617-527-3194
As you unpack your New Ensemble IIsystem, please examine each speakerunit carefully for signs of shippingdamage. If there is any damage, donot install or use the system. Consultthe store where you purchased thesystem or call Cambridge Sound-Works at 1-877-YES-HIFI for assis-tance.
It’s a good idea to save the ship-ping carton and its inserts in caseyou have to ship your system later.
All the items shown to the rightshould be included; inform the storeor Cambridge SoundWorks if any-thing is missing.
Unpacking The System
CAMBRIDGE
SOUNDWORKS
CAMBRIDGE
SOUNDWORKS
CAMBRIDGESOUNDWORKS
Satellites (2)
Satellite feet(2 strips of 4)
Subwoofer
2
SHA
KE
SPEA
RE
SHA
KE
SPEA
RE
SHA
KE
SPEA
RE
1 2 3
The Sun A
lso Rises
CAMBRIDGE
SOUNDWORKS
MOZARTSymphoniesNo. 39 & 41
Speaker PlacementThe satellites• For music listening, place the
satellites to form an equal-sidedtriangle with your favorite listen-ing position (A, below). Perfectlysymmetrical placement is notnecessary.
• In a home theater installation,place the satellites so that theyform a 45° angle with your pre-ferred seat (B), which is howmovie soundtracks are mixed. Thesubwoofer and satellites are notmagnetically shielded, and mustbe at least 18 inches from the TVto prevent picture distortion.
• Have a clear line of sight to thesatellites, so that higher frequen-cies are not blocked.
• The satellites can be placed eithervertically or horizontally.
Flush
• If the satellites are across the roomfrom the listening area, theirheight is usually not critical; theycan go down on the floor, up nearthe ceiling, or most anywhere inbetween. If they are close to thelistening area, however, it is bestto have them at or near ear level.
• If you put the satellites in book-shelves or a wall system, placethem with their front surfacesflush with the front of the shelves;you can then surround them withbooks, CDs, etc., as shown below.
• Take advantage of the satellites’small size and consider locationswhere regular speakers wouldn’tfit, such as window sills or amantelpiece.
with a variety of swivel adaptersavailable from CambridgeSoundWorks. Floor stands are alsoavailable. See page 10, “FinalizingYour Installation.”
Next, consult page 5 and decidewhich of the different hookupoptions is best. Prepare the speakerwire and make the connections.Listen to the system and be sure youare satisfied with the placementbefore concealing the wires.
OverviewRead through the guidelines thatfollow before starting to install yourspeakers.
First, decide where to place theNew Ensemble II speaker units inyour listening room. Considerlocations where conventionalspeakers would not fit. NewEnsemble II satellites can be locatedon bookshelves, hung from a wallwith No. 10 screws or wall-mounted
3
Cambridge SoundWorks
Cambridge SoundWorks
Cambridge SoundWorks
Cambridge SoundWorks
A
45°
B
The subwoofer• Because the ear cannot localize
low-bass, the New Ensemble II’ssubwoofer does not contributesignificantly to the stereo effect.Therefore it need not be particu-larly close to the satellites, andcan be hidden under or behindfurniture. Low-bass will appear toemanate from the satellites.
• To start with, simply place thesubwoofer on the floor againstthe wall nearest the satellites.You can experiment with place-ment using the guidelines whichfollow.
• The flared output vent on thesubwoofer must be at least 2inches from the nearest surface.
• The strength of low bass dependson how close the subwoofer is tointersecting room surfaces as
Left Satellite Right Satellite
Subwoofer
Left Satellite Right Satellite
Subwoofer
Left Satellite Right Satellite
Subwoofer
A. Least Bass B. More Bass C. Most Bass
shown below. The most bass—results from the unit in a corneron the floor. The least bassresults with the unit out in theroom away from corners andwalls.
• While we usually don’t recom-mend placing the subwooferbehind the listening area, try it ifyou’re tight for space.
• Don’t place the subwoofer on thesame shelf system as a turntable.
4
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
The complete New Ensemble II systemmust be connected ONLY to the SpeakerA or Speaker B terminals on your receiveror amplifier, just like a pair of conventionalspeakers. DO NOT connect the satellitesto one set of terminals and the subwooferto the other. With many receivers, thiswould connect the satellites and bassspeaker in series, which would do nodamage, but could seriously degrade theNew Ensemble II’s performance.
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
SPEAKERS
L
–
+
R
–
+
+ +
Hookup OptionsOPTION
SPEAKERS
L
–
+
R
–
+
+ +
+
LASER DISC 102.7
CAMBRIDGE
SOUNDWORKS
CAMBRIDGE
SOUNDWORKS
CAMBRIDGE
SOUNDWORKS
CAMBRIDGESOUNDWORKS
Receiver or amplifier
Left satellite
Subwoofer
Right satellite
Twist bared endstogether (see p. 7)
IMPORTANT NOTE
Receiver or amplifierOPTION
LASER DISC 102.7
CAMBRIDGESOUNDWORKS
CAMBRIDGE
SOUNDWORKS
CAMBRIDGE
SOUNDWORKS
2
The New Ensemble II may be connected toyour receiver or amplifier using any oneof the three following diagrams. All of thethree options are acoustically andelectrically identical. Choosing the rightconnection option minimizes the length ofspeaker wire you have to use (andpossibly conceal).
If you wish to audition your speakers indifferent positions before deciding on thetheir final locations, connect yourspeakers according to Hookup Option (1)and allow ample wire length for experi-mentation. Afterwards, you can reconnectthe wires in the most efficient routing.
1
5
○○○○○○○○○○○
OPTION
3
1"
1/2"
CE
D
LASER DISC 102.7
CAMBRIDGESOUNDWORKS
CambridgeSoundWorks
CambridgeSoundWorks
SPEAKERS
L
–
+
R
–
+
+ +
6
• The leads in each pair are usuallydifferentiated by a ridge or colorstripe down one lead’s insulation,and/or through the use of differ-ent color wire (copper and silver).This is important when makingconnections as described in thenext section.
• Use at least 18-gauge wire forruns of up to 50 feet, and at least16-gauge for longer runs.
1. After choosing the connectionconfiguration, cut speaker wireinto four appropriate lengths.We recommend you use a wirecutter/stripper.
2. Separate the two individualleads for a distance of one inch(as shown in C, below) at bothends of each of the four wires.
3. Strip 1/2 inch of insulation fromeach individual lead end, beingcareful to apply only enoughpressure to cut through theinsulation and not the wirestrands.
4. Twist the bared wire strandstightly together (D). Be sure thatthere are no loose strands thatcould short across the connect-ing terminals on the speakers orreceiver (E).
Preparing Speaker Wires
Making Connections
F
When connecting your system,follow these guidelines:• Unscrew all of the speakers’ red
(+) and black (–) connectors toexpose the holes in their threadedshafts. Insert the stripped ends ofthe wires in the holes. Handtighten the connectors clockwiseas shown in (F and G). Be surethat no stray strands of wire shortacross the speaker terminals orthose on your receiver or amplifer.Alternatively you can attachstandard banana plugs to thespeaker wires and plug them intothe speaker connectors.
• Connect all the speaker unitsidentically by connecting the red(+) and black (–) terminals on thespeaker units to their red andblack counterparts on your re-ceiver or amplifier as shown in thesystem diagrams on pages 5-7.Use the marked/copper leads forinterconnecting the red terminals,and the unmarked leads for theblack terminals.
Connecting the speakers identi-cally assures that they operate “inphase” (their cones move in andout together). “Out of phase”connections can muddy the stereoeffect. Sounds like solo voices,
G
+
Undersideof subwoofer
that should appear to come froma single point between the twosatellites, will sound “split”between them.
• When connecting two wires to asingle connector, twist themarked (copper) and unmarked(silver) leads for the satellite andsubwoofer together as shown in(H), below.
H
7
Rear ofsatellite
+– +
–
–
8
But if you wish to see if an improve-ment can be made, we suggest youexperiment with placement using thefollowing guidelines:• Let your ears be your guide, and
trust them. When the NewEnsemble II sounds right to you,you’ve found the best placement.
• A small change in placement canhave a large effect on the sound.For example, low-bass increases asyou move the subwoofer closer tothe intersecting room surfaces. Thesound will be brighter with thesatellites close to the listening areathan with them across the room.And the apparent fullness of thesound, a function of mid-bassrather than low-bass, is greaterwith the satellites against a wallthan with them out in the room.
This is not to imply that “moreis better,” whether it be bass,brightness, or fullness. The point isthat a change can easily be effectedsimply by moving one or more ofthe speaker units. And with NewEnsemble II, that is easy to do.
• Program material varies greatly, sobe sure to listen to a variety ofrecordings to prevent being misledby unusual characteristics ofa particular recording.
It is almost impossible to find anacoustically ideal placement for aconventional speaker in a listeningroom. This is because room acous-tics affect low-bass differently fromthe rest of the range of sound. If youplace a speaker so the room helps itsbass, it is likely to hinder the upperranges (and vice versa). Thus,placing conventional speakersinevitably entails a sonic compro-mise, even before proper stereoeffect, decor, and convenience aretaken into account.
This compromise doesn’t apply tothe New Ensemble II. It separates thelow-bass from the rest of the range.This means you can place thesubwoofer and the satellites differ-ently to take advantage of the roomin both the lower and upper ranges.Yet the units are so compact thateven when placed optimally, theyhave little or no visual impact onyour living space.
We urge you to take full advan-tage of the New Ensemble II bytrying the speaker units in differentlocations within your listeningroom. Of course, if the systemsounds satisfactory from the mo-ment you connect it and first turn iton, you may wish to go no further.
• If it is necessary to place thesatellites close to the listeningarea and you find the sound toobright, try placing the units at anangle so that listeners aren’tdirectly on their axis (I).
Mid-bass and mid-rangebalance is usually best with thesatellites against a wall. If theyare out from the wall and soundtoo thin, particularly on vocalrecordings, try moving them backtoward the wall.
• The subwoofer reproduces only thelowest bass, such as bass drum, organpedals, and the lowest notes of stringbasses and synthesizers. Refer to theillustration on page 4 for guidance ifthe low-bass is either too strong ornot strong enough. Also, not allrecordings have truly low-bass onthem, so be sure to make judgmentson recordings which do.
• If you’re not happy with what you hearand are having trouble improving it,check with your store, or call a Cam-bridge SoundWorks Audio/VideoConsultant at 1-877-YES-HIFI toll-free.
Optimizing The Sound Of Your System
I
9
The amount of amplifier orreceiver power needed to drive NewEnsemble II satisfactorily variessignificantly with such factors as thesize of the listening room, its acous-tics and furnishings, the type ofmusic you listen to, and how loudyou like to play it. When surveyinga representative variety of listenersand circumstances, we encounteredpower needs ranging from as littleas 25 to as much as 150 watts perchannel.
The New Ensemble II system canbe used safely to play music withthe most powerful amplifiers andreceivers designed for home listen-ing. However, use common sense toprevent strong non-musical tran-sients; keep the volume down whenconnecting or disconnecting compo-nents, raising or lowering yourturntable’s tonearm, and so on. Thiswill help protect your ears as well asthe speaker units.
At high volume levels, if thesound is consistently “grainy” or“gritty”, and/or there is clearlynoticeable distortion on deep bass,you may be overdriving your ampli-fier or receiver. Back- off on thevolume control until the symptomsdisappear. If this level is not loudenough for you, you may need amore powerful amplifier or receiverfor satisfactory results.
If you suspect your amplifier orreceiver is inadequate, contact thestore where it was purchased or calla Cambridge SoundWorks Audio/Video Consultant, who will adviseyou on how much power would beappropriate for your particularcircumstances.
About Amplifier Power
®
FOR USE WITH ENSEMBLE AND ENSEMBLE IICAMBRIDGE SOUNDWORKS, INC.NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS USA
MADE IN TAIWAN1-800-367-4434 USA 617-332-5936 (OUTSIDE USA)
6 OHMS
B Y H E N R Y K L O S SNEWENSEMBLE II
00000
FOR USE WITH ENSEMBLE AND ENSEMBLE IICAMBRIDGE SOUNDWORKS, INC.NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS USA
MADE IN TAIWAN1-800-367-4434 USA 617-332-5936 (OUTSIDE USA)
6 OHMS00000
B Y H E N R Y K L O S SNEWENSEMBLE II
FOR USE WITH ENSEMBLE AND ENSEMBLE IICAMBRIDGE SOUNDWORKS, INC.NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS USA
MADE IN TAIWAN1-800-367-4434 USA 617-332-5936 (OUTSIDE USA)
6 OHMS00000
B Y H E N R Y K L O S SNEWENSEMBLE II
Finalizing Your InstallationThe New Ensemble II satellites canbe placed on a shelf, a mantel, oranywhere convenient. Apply thefour small dome-shaped feet on thebottom of each satellite. The feetprotect the supporting surface andcompensate for uneven or slickconditions. If you ever need toremove a foot, gently slide the edgeof a knife under one side andslowly peel it off. If you attemptto“pop” it off, you many damagethe speaker’s finish.
The satellites may be hungdirectly on a wall. Apply the domeshaped feet to the back of thesatellite to insure a more secureinstallation. Screw a No. 10 screwinto the wall so the head protrudesabout 3/8 inch. Plastic anchors maybe needed to secure the screws inparticularly hard or soft materials.If so, drill the appropriate size holesin the wall and tap in the anchorsuntil they are flush with thesurface. The exposed screw headcan then fit into the keyhole slot onthe rear of the New Ensemble IIsatellite (see K). If necessary Adjustthe the space between the screwhead and the wall for the best fit.
Swivel brackets are also availablefor hanging the speakers anddirecting their sound towards thelistening area. Use the threadedsocket to attach these to the speakers(see J). Ceiling brackets (L) areavailable from CambridgeSoundWorks and can be used forhanging speakers where there are noconvenient locations for wallmounting.
10
KJ
L
11
® Ensemble and Cambridge SoundWorks are registered trademarks of Cambridge SoundWorks Incorporated
This is the sole and expresswarranty. This warranty is in lieu ofall other warranties, expressed orimplied, of merchantability, fitnessfor purpose or otherwise. In noevent shall Cambridge SoundWorksbe liable for incidental or conse-quential damages or have anyliability with respect to defects otherthan the obligations set forth above.
To ensure warranty coverage it isincumbent upon the originalpurchaser to inform CambridgeSoundWorks or any of its Autho-rized Service Agencies of the defectwithin the warranty period. Theonly acceptable method of establish-ing warranty status is a copy of theoriginal proof of purchase indicatingcustomers name and purchase date.
To the original purchaser, Cam-bridge SoundWorks, Inc. willwarrant the New Ensemble IIspeaker system to be free fromdefects in material and workman-ship for a period of ten (10) yearsfrom date of purchase. With respectto defects, Cambridge SoundWorkswill, at its option, replace theproduct or repair the defect in theproduct with no charge to theoriginal purchaser for parts or labor.
This warranty does not extend toany defect, malfunction or failurecaused by misuse, abuse, accident,faulty hookup, defective associatedequipment or use of the speakerwith equipment for which it is notintended.
This warranty is valid only whenthe speaker is returned to the storewhere it was purchased. Or, if youbought directly from CambridgeSoundWorks, call for a ReturnAuthorization Number for the unitand return it to the address below,freight prepaid, together with a copyof the original sales slip to establishwarranty status. Please do notreturn New Ensemble II, or any of itsparts, to the factory without priorauthorization.
10-Year Limited Warranty
The satellites can be cleaned with awindow cleaning product. Use asoft, lint-free cloth only. Avoidspraying the cleaner directly on thespeaker grilles to prevent damageto the speaker drivers. Also, avoidgetting cleaner on the serialnumber plate on the rear of eachspeaker as it may remove thenumbers.
Clean the subwoofer with adamp cloth. Do not use polish.
CleaningThe Cabinets
Difficulty?If you suspect there’s a problemwith your New Ensemble II system,contact the store where youpurchased it, or call a CambridgeSoundWorks Audio/Video Consult-ant who will help you track theproblem, which could be in someother component in your system. Iftogether you agree that there issomething wrong with your NewEnsemble II system, you shouldreturn it to the store where youbought it. Or, if you bought directlyfrom Cambridge SoundWorks, wewill supply you with a ReturnAuthorization Number for the unit.Please do not return the NewEnsemble II system, or any of itsparts, to the factory without priorauthorization.
311 Needham Street, Newton MA 024641-877-937-4434 Fax: 617-527-3194
